Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. / Andrew Burton, Getty Images

by David Carrig, USA TODAY

by David Carrig, USA TODAY

Stocks ended mixed Tuesday, but with the Dow and S&P 500 notching all-time closing highs for the second straight day and the S&P 500 briefly jumping above the 1,900 mark for the first time.

Oil stayed above the $100 per barrel mark.

At the closing bell, the S&P 500 index was up -- though only a scant 0.04% -- to 1,897.45. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.1% to 16,715.44 -- up 20 points -- and set a new intraday record high on its way, of around 16,735.

Sinking 0.3% was the Nasdaq composite, losing 14 points to close at 4,130.17.

On Monday, the S&P 500 index rose 18.17 points, or 1%, to finish at an all-time high of 1,896.65. The Dow gained 112.13 points, or 0.7%, to end at record closing high of 16,695.47. The Nasdaq climbed 71.99 points, or 1.8%, to 4,143.86.

In economic news, retail sales grew a scant 0.1% in April, disappointing forecasters who expected more of an early spring pick-up. Economists' had forecast a 0.5% gain.

U.S. businesses increased their stockpiles by 0.4% in March and sales increased 1%, the Commerce Department reported. It was the largest increase in sales in 10 months and follows a 0.9% rise in February. The two months of sizable gains in sales should encourage businesses to keep restocking to meet rising demand.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dropped to 2.62% from 2.66% late Monday.